Summary: God wants us to be history makers in our land so what are the qualities of a history maker?

Today we start a series on the book of Daniel. The theme of the entire book of Daniel is the Sovereignty of God.Every single chapter in the book of Daniel shows God as sovereign over the events of history; past, present and future. History is His story

Chapter 1 begins

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim King of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.( 605BC) And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylon and put in the treasure house of his god.” (V1-2)

Straight away we see the sovereignty of God-

“And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.”

Since we are not told here why the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon…

Remember you always reap what you sow.

…These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylon and put in the treasure house of his god.” (V1-2)

The nation of Israel had been living in idolatry for hundreds of years and in 605 BC God had enough.

As we said and we have already seen the theme of the entire book of Daniel is the Sovereignty of God

Danger: Since God is Sovereign over history then we can all just sit back and just watch God do everything.

A sovereign God rises up men and women in order to use them to change history

When God wants to create the nation of Israel he raises up Abraham

When God wants to deliver His people from Egypt He raises up Moses

When God wants to bring His people into the Promised Land He raises up a Joshua

When God wants to deliver the Jews from the evil Haman He raises up Esther.

When God wants to tell us the future He raises up a Daniel

Illustration: This morning we sang the song

I’m going to be a History maker in this land…

How much do we want to be a history maker in this land for God?

My title for Daniel chapter one is “How big is your want too?”

How much do we want to be a history maker for God in this land?

Do we meet the qualifications to be a history maker for God is this land?

“Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility- young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well formed, quick to understand and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. (v3-4)

According to these qualifications the answer is NO!

But it’s God that decides who gets to be a history maker for God?

God is sovereign!

" Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-- and the things that are not-- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."

A.You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last.

Every believer has the potential to be a history maker

The question is how big is our want too?

What does it take to be a history maker in this land for God?

From the life of Daniel there are 4 things that are necessary to be a history maker in this land for God.

1.It takes Preparation. (v4-5)

“ He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the kings table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.”

A.There was a teacher (Ashpenaz)

B.There was a curriculum (The language and literature of the Babylonians)

C.There was a plan (They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service)

A. God has given us an even better teacher. (The Holy Spirit.)

“But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (John 16:13)